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Most central heating systems will have a timer set up that switches your boiler on or off at set times, while a room thermostat will allow you to control your home’s temperature

Home Tree

They told Express.co.uk: “It’s hard to say because gas will remain at the same price no matter what time of day you decide to switch on your heating.

“If you wake up early in the morning, head to work during the daytime and return in the evening, your best option would be to set your heating to switch on just before the time you wake up, and the time you return home (whilst also making sure it switches off while you’re out of the house).

“Most central heating systems will have a timer set up that switches your boiler on or off at set times, while a room thermostat will allow you to control your home’s temperature.”

They also recommend using smart thermostats, as they often come with nifty features to save you money.

Home Tree added: “For the tech savvy amongst us, smart thermostats come with an abundance of extra features, including geofencing, which uses your smartphone’s location to decide whether your heating should be switched on or off once you’re within a certain distance from your home.”

But it’s important to consider the temperature outside of your home, before deciding when to time your heating.

It's the time of year people crank up their thermostat (Image: GETTY)

The best temperature for your home is 18C (Image: GETTY)

“In addition to timing your heating, you should take into consideration the temperature outside while deciding whether there’s a need for your heating to be switched on.

“If you want to be more efficient with controls, weather compensation controls use an outdoor sensor to measure outdoor temperature and alter the temperature of your radiators.”

And once you’ve decided on the best times to switch your heating on, you should then think about which temperature to settle on.

Home Tree’s expert said 18 or 19 degrees is ideal for most homes, even in winter.

They continued: “The ideal temperature for homes, even during the Winter, is a steady 18oC or 19oC. Reducing your home’s thermostat settings even by as little as 1oC could save you money.

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Lighting the fire is a cosy way to keep warm this winter (Image: GETTY)

“Many people still believe the myth that keeping your home warm for longer periods involves switching your thermostat all the way up. Turning your heating all the way up will waste a lot of energy and increase your spending.”

A recent myth that was busted was the idea it’s cheaper to keep your heating switched on all day on a low setting.

And Home Tree advise the best way to save energy is to only switch your heating on when it’s actually needed.

“By scheduling your heating to come on at specific times using a programmable or smart thermostat, you’ll make a saving on your energy bills in the long run,” they said.

“It’s important to remember that it’s all about the amount of energy that is required to heat your home. Taking measures like properly insulating your home and upgrading your doors and windows can help improve the heat retention meaning you will expend less energy heating it up.”